Drier construction



Aug. 13, 1940. 1.. BUCK ET AL 2,211,644

DRIER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lucien Buck, Wyncote,

Philadelphia, Pa.,

Thygeson, Proctor & Schwartz, ph a,

and John Robert assignors to Incorporated, Philadel- Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationNovember 17, 1937, Serial No. 175,148

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of structural unit or panel adaptable for use in the construction of the side walls, roofs, etc. of fabricated enclosures.

The unit forming the subject matter of the present invention is an improvement on the panels or units disclosed in the mutual assignees prior patents to Walter M. Schwartz, No.

1,652,055, dated December 6, 1927, the reissue thereof No. 17,144 1928, and No. 1,741

bearing date of November 20, ,342, dated December 31, 1929.

In the first of the above noted prior patents, the panels are supported by a skeleton framework, composed 0 arranged angle irons, etc., to which the panels f vertically and horizontally are removably secured. In the last of said prior patents certain elements formerly included in the skeleton framewor k, i. e. the vertical elements which constitute the main supports, are built into the panels, with t ments of the skelet for supporting the The object of th he horizontal and other eleon framework secured thereto roof panels etc.

e present invention is to con= struct the panels or units and to assemble thevarious panels or units in such a manner as to eliminate the necessity of providing a skeleton framework either independently of the panels or partly within the panels and partly inaddition to the panels.

The constructions and the manner of assembling the panels will be fully disclosed hereinafter, references being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic perspective view of a complete enclosure units, constructed composed of assembled panel in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line 2 -2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line 4-4), Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fra gmentary sectional elevation taken on theline 5-5, Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 6--6, Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the enclosure comprises a plurality of side wall panels units A, A A a with a suitable for m of heat insulating material 3, disposed between the plates i and 2 throughout substantially the entire area of the panel.

In each instance at least two of the opposite parallel marginal edges of the panel, 1. e. the edges which define the thickness of the panel, 5 are formed by bending inner marginal portions 3 of the sheet 9 at right angles to the plane of the sheet, along lines spaced inwardly from the extreme outer edges of the sheet, wherebythe portions 4 will extend from the main body portion M? of the sheet I to the main body portion of the sheet 2. Corresponding outer marginal edge portions of the sheet 2 are bent around the extreme outer edges of the sheet I, as indicated at 5, to lock the two sheets rigidly together and to form a flange or rib on the unit or panel for stifiening the panel along the edges thereof, where the two sheets are joined in the manner noted.

In. the panels A, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner marginal bent portions t of the sheet l, along the opposite vertically extending edges of said panel, are rebent at right angles from the planes of the portions 41, to planes parallel to the main body of the sheets i 'and 2, as indicated at 6. These intermediate marginal portions 6 lie in parallel conan tacting relation to the sheet 2. Outer marginal edge portions of the sheet i are bent at right angles to the intermediate marginal portions 6. into parallel relation to the portions 6, as indicated at l.

The sheet 215 substantially fiat from side to side of the panel, and is bent along its opposite longitudinal edges at right angles to the plane of the sheet, as indicated at 3. These inner marginal right angle portions 8 lie parallel to and in 5 contacting relation with the outer marginal portions 7 of the sheet 0. The sheet 2 is rebent abruptly around the extreme edges 9 of the, sheet l, to form the locks 5, with intermediate marginal portions Ill lying in parallel contacting rew lation to the intermediate marginal portions l of the sheet I at the opposite sides thereof from those against which the inner marginal portions 8 of the sheet 2 rest. The sheet 2 is rebent at right angles to the planes of the intermediate 4:5 marginal portions it) thereof to provide outer marginal portions l I lying in contact with the opposite sides of the intermediate marginal portions 6 of the sheet i from those which are engaged by the main body portion of the sheet 2 so with the extreme edges l2 of the sheet 2 lying in close adjacent relation to the inner marginal portions 4 of the sheet I.

Along the uppe'r edge of each panel A, as shown in Fig. 3,'the sheet i is bent at right angles to 55 the inner marginal portion 4 thereof to form an outer marginal portion, as indicated at I3. This outer marginal portion I3 lies in parallel contacting relation to the main body portion of the sheet 2. The outer marginal portion I5 of the sheet 2 is bent abruptly around the extreme edge I4 of the outer marginal portion I3 of the sheet I, to form the lock 5. This outer continuous marginal portion I5 of the sheet 2 extends from the bend 5 substantially to the inner marginal portion 4 of the sheet I, in parallel contacting relation to the opposite side of the portion I3 of the sheet I from that which is engaged by the main body portion of the sheet 2.

The bottom edges of the panels A are formed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. The inner marginal portion 4 of the sheet I terminates in an outermarginal portion or flange I6, which is disposed at right angles to the inner marginal portion 4 and lies in parallel contacting relation to the main body portion of the sheet 2.

The sheet 2 is bent at right angles to the main body portion thereof, as indicated at N. This inner marginal portion I'I lies in parallel contacting relation to the inner marginal portion 4 of the sheet I, along the bottom edge of the panel A. g

The inner marginal portion I! of the sheet 2 terminates in an outer vertically extending marginal portion or flange I8, which is bent at right angles to the portion l1 and lies in parallel contacting relation to the main body portion of the sheet I.

The above noted construction forms a locking joint between the two sheets I and 2 along the bottom of the panel which corresponds to the locking joints 5, previously referred to, i. e. in each instance the one main sheet is folded or bent around a portion of the other main sheet of the panel to lock the two together at the marginal edges of the completed panel.

The construction of the panel A along its opposite vertical marginal edges thereof, as described above, produces the effect, insofar as stiifening and strength are concerned, of a Z bar, in cross section. The construction along the upper marginal edge of the panel produces the effect of an angle bar in cross section; and the construction along the lower edge of the panel produces the effect of a channel bar, in cross section.

The construction of the panels A A is substantially the same as the construction of the panels A and no further description thereof is believed to be required.

The construction of the panels A, insofar as the one vertical edge, the top, and bottom edges are concerned, is the same as the panels A, A As shown in Fig. 4, the second vertical edge of the panel A is similar to the construction of the lower edge of said panels, in that the sheet I is bent at right angles to the body of the sheet to form the inner marginal portion 4. The portion 4 terminates in a right angle flange I6 which lies parallel abutting relation to the main body of the sheet 2. The sheet 2 is bent at right angles to the main body thereof, as indicated at H, and arranged with the portion I! of the sheet 2 lying in parallel contacting relation to the portion 4 of the sheet I. The right angle portion ll of the sheet 2 is bent to provide the right angle flange I8 which lies in parallel contacting relation to the main body portion of the sheet I. Here again is produced a lock joint similar to the lock joints 5, above referred to.

The transversely extending marginal edges of the panels B and B are formed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. The marginal portion 4 of the sheet I extends at right angles to the main body portion of said sheet, from the plane of the body portion of the sheet I to and beyond the plane of the body portion of the sheet 2. The sheet 2 is bent at right angles to produce an inner marginal portion 20 which lies in parallel contacting relation to the marginal portion 4 of the sheet I, adjacent the extreme edge I9 of the sheet I. The sheet 2 is bent abruptly about the extreme edge I9 of the sheet I to provide an outer marginal portion 2I which lies in parallel contacting relation to the opposite side of the portion 4 of the sheet I from that which is engaged by the portion 2|] of the sheet 2. This construction produces the effect of an angle bar, insofar as strength and resistance to structural stresses are concerned.

The longitudinal marginal edges of the roof panels B and B are constructed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. A complementary edge sheet 4 is employed to fulfill the duties of the bent or marginal portion 4 of the sheet I along the opposite longitudinal edges of the panels. The sheets 4 extend from one to the other and beyond the planes of the main sheets I and 2, at right ang es to said planes. The sheets i and 2 are bent abruptly around the extreme edges 22-22 of the edge sheets 4 to form the lock joints 5 referred to above. The sheets I and 2, in each instance are bent to provide parallel portions 23 and 24 which lie in parallel contacting relation to the opposite faces respectively of the edge sheet 4, from the extreme edge 22 of the sheet 4 to the plane of the main body sheet I or 2 as the case may be.

The above construction produces the effect of an I-bar in cross section with the main body portions of the sheets I and 2 integrally attached to one side thereof. The portion of the edge sheet 4 disposed between the body sheets I and 2 forms the main web of the I-beam, while the bent portions 23 and 24 of the sheets I and 2, lying at opposite sides of the edge sheet 4 adjacent the extreme edges 22-22 thereof, constitutes the cross webs of the I-beam.

The vertical side edges and top edge of the end panels C, C are formed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, which corresponds to the construction of the top marginal edges of the side wall panels A, A A in that the inner marginal portion 4 of the sheet I is bent at right angles to the plane of the main body portion of the sheet I and is then rebent to provide an outer marginal portion 25 lying in parallel contacting relation to the main body sheet 2. The sheet 2 is folded abruptly about the extreme edge 26 of the outer marginal portion 25 of the sheet I and forms an outer marginal portion 21 lying in parallel contacting relation to that side of the portion 25 of the sheet I opposite to that engaged by the main body portion of the sheet 2. The extreme edge 28 of the portion 21 of the sheet 2 is disposed adjacent the portion 4 of the sheet I. This construction, like the construction shown in Fig. 3, produces the effect of an angle bar along the vertical and top edges of the panels C. The lower edge of the panels C are formed in the same manner as the lower edges of the panels A, A A, as shown in Fig. 5.

In assembling the various panels, to produce an enclosure such as that illustrated in Fig. 1, a foundation structure describing the area of the floor space to be occupied by the enclosure is first laid on said floor. This foundation consists merely of an angle bar 30 having one flange 3| lying on and secured to the floor on which the enclosure is to be installed, with the second flange 32 projecting vertically. The side panels A, A

the sheet metal of which the main body portion of the panel is composed.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the side panels A and A are arranged in alternating relation to each other, i. e., the panels A, A, for example, are arranged with the body sheets 2 thereof lying to the outside of the enclosure while the panels A A which are similar in construction to the panels A, are arranged with the sheets 2 thereof disposed on the inside of the enclosure.

Overhanging portions 35 which are formed along the vertical opposite edges of each panel by the portions 6 of the sheet and the portions etc. of the sheet 2 thereof, are disposed in overlapping relation to the main body portions of the adjacent panels. Screws 36 pass through the overlapping portion 35 of the one panel and are secured in the body portions of the adjacent panel, project outwardly and inwardly with respect to the enclosure, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. An insulating strip. 33 is placed between the marginal edge portions 4, 4 of the adjacent panels.

The overlapping of the portions 35 and 31 of one panel with the body portion of the adjacent panel, together with the portions 4, 4 of the twopanels, provides a double Z-bar construction at the joint between the two panels, which provides a high degree of rigidity to the side wall of the enclosure, without the necessity of providing any additional skeleton framework for supporting the panels. The panels, due to the'lr'construction, function in a self-sustaining manner in each instance. g

The side panels A, A which are arranged at the opposite ends of each side wall provide the necessary rigidity at the corners of the enclosure, by the channel bar construction of the end edges of said panels as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The roof panels, B, B are subsequently laid on the shoulders provided by the rabbet edges formed by the top marginahedge portions 4, 4 of the side panels A, A and A and theupwardly projecting edges of the side wall panels, with an insulating strip 33 disposed between the top and side panels, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The top panels B, B are secured to the upper edges of the side wall panels A, A A, by bolts 38 passing through the flange or rib 39," formed by portions l3 and I of the sheet I and the upper portion of the sheet 2, and a flange 40 formed by the portion 4 of the sheet I and the portions 20 and 2| of the sheet 2 of the roof panel.

Adjacent roof panels are secured together by bolts 38 passing through the ribs or flanges 40 and 4| formed by the edge sheets hand the right angle portions 23 and 24 of the body sheets I and 2. An insulating strip. 33 is provided between each of the abutting edges of the adjacent roof panels B, B as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

If it is desired to stifien further the structure at the juncture of the roof panels B, B with the side wall panels A, A A knee plates 42 may be secured to the underneath ribs 4| of the roof panels B, B and the inner ribs or flanges 31 of the side wall panels, by means of bolts 43-43, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. i

The end panels C, C are secured to the side panels A A by means of screws 44. The screws 44 pass through over-hanging flanges 45 of the and panels C, C which are formed on the vertical edges of the end panels C by the portions 25 of the body sheets and the portions 28 of the body sheets 2 lying at one side thereof, and the body sheets 2 lying at the opposite sides thereof, and are secured in the channel-bar edges of the side panels A A The end panels 'C, C are secured to the roof panels B, B by the over-hanging edges or flange portions 26 of the end panels C, which extend across the top edges of said end panels, by bolts.

similar to the bolts 38, passing through said overhanging flanges 26 and the upper flanges 4| of said-roof panels B, B A sealing or insulation strip 33 is inserted between said flanges if desired.

The abutting transversely extending ends of the roof panels B, B may be constructed either in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6 or in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, with the flanges I9, l9 or 4|, 4|, as the case may be, being secured together by bolts 40 passing therethrough. Likewise a sealing or insulating strip 33 is provided between the. abutting ends of the panels B, B

If desired, the panels B and B may be included in one panel extending from side wall to side wall of the enclosure. However, it is desirable to make the panels B of a standard size and the panels B of various standard sizes or of a special size required, in conjunction 'with the panels B, to produce an enclosure of predetermned width which would be greater than the standard length of the panels B. The panels B, B are preferably arranged in staggered relation to each, other, in the wider widths of enclosures, to stiiien the roof of the enclosure.

, It will be understood that the end panels C may be replaced by panels similar to the panels A, A in whole or in part and a suitable doorway may be inserted inplace on one of such panelsto provide entrance to the interior of the enclosure. Where the enclosure is to be used as a drying chamber it will be obvious that'i'ts length may be made to any predetermined measurement, by merely adding to or. multiplying the number of side wall and roof panels. It will be further understood that, if the enclosure 'is to house conveyors etc., for carrying material to be dried longitudinally through the enclosure, the end panels C may be constructed in any suitable manner to provide an opening or openingsfor the passage of the conveyor and the material carried thereby.

In order to fit the panels A to the roof panels B and 13 between the panels A, A or A, A, the upper edge of the panel A will be formed with the marginal portions 4 and I3 produced from the sheet 2, instead of the sheet l as shown in Fig. 3-and with the marginal portion l5 produced from the sheet I instead of the sheet 2 as in said figure, otherwise the construction of the panels A and A are the same.

While the unit forming the subject matter of the present invention'is primarily designed for use in fabricating drying casings, the units are adaptable for use in the construction of other forms of enclosures, for use inside or outside other .buildings, such for example, as garages, field ofilces, stores, storage houses, storm or wind shelters, etc., for permanent or temporary use, as the units are of such construction that they may be readily assembled for use and disassembled when no longer required for the purpose for which they were previously set up.

We claim:

1. A rectangular closure panel comprising a pair of plates respectively including a central body portion and surrounding marginal portions, said body portions being disposed in substantially parallel laterally spaced opposed relation to each other, said marginal portions being bent and folded one around the other and interlocked to close the edges of the panel between said body portions and producing a flange on at least one marginal edge of the panel with said flange extending outwardly from said edge in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the body portion of one of said plates and a second flange on the first said flange and extending outwardly from one face of the panel substantially at right angles to said plane.

2. A rectangular closure panel comprising a pair of plates respectively including a central body portion and surrounding marginal portions, said body portions being disposed in substantially parallel laterally spaced opposed relation to each other, said marginal portions being bent and folded one [around the other and interlocked to close the edges oi the panel between said body portions and producing a flange on each of a pair of opposite parallel marginal edges of said panel with said flanges extending outwardly in opposite directions from said marginal edges respectively in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the body portion of one of said plates and a second flange on each of the first saidflanges extending outwardly from one face of the panel substantially at right angles to said plane.

3. A closure comprising a series of side panels arranged vertically in edge to edge abutting relation to each other, a series of roof panels arranged horizontaliy in edge to edge abutting relation to each other with the ends of the roof panels resting on the upper horizontal edges of the side panels, each panel comprising a pair of plates including a central body portion and surrounding marginal portions, the marginal portions of each side panel being bent and folded to close the edges of the panel and producing a flange along each of the vertical abutting edges of the panel with each flange extending outwardly from said panel in a plane coincident with the plane of the'central portion of one of said plates and a second flange on the first said flange along each of said vertical abutting edges extending at right angles to the planes of the central portions of the plates of said side panels, the marginal portions along said ends of each of said roof panels bein bent and folded to close said end edges of said roof panels, an edge closing plate along each of the abutting side edges of each roof panel with said side marginal portions of said roof panel plates bent and folded around said edge plates and producing flanges extending at right angles to the planes of said central portions of the plates of said roof panels, and knee plates secured to and connecting the right angle flanges of said roof panels and said side panels.

4. A closure comprising a series of side panels arranged vertically in edge to edge abutting relation to each other, a series of roof panels arranged horizontally in edge to edge abutting relation to each other with the ends of the roof panels resting on the upper horizontal edges of the side panels, each panel comprising a pair of plates including a central body portion and surrounding marginal portions, the marginal portions of each side panel being bent and folded to close the edges of the panel and producing a flange along each of the vertical abutting edges and the upper horizontal edge of the panel with each flange extending outwardly from said panel in a plane coincident with the plane of the central portion of one of said plates and a second flange on the first said flange along each of said vertical abutting edges extending at right angles to the planes of the central portions of the plates of said side panels, the marginal portions along said ends of each of said roof panels being bent and folded to close said end edges of said roof panels and producing a flange along each of said ends'of each roof panel with said end flange extending at right angles to the planes of the central portions of the plates of said roof panels, an edge closing plate along each of the abutting side edges of each roof panel withlsaid side marginal portions of said roof panel plates bent and folded around said edge plates and producing flanges extending at right angles to the planes of said central portions of the plates of said roof panels, means for securing the end flanges of said roof panels to the flanges along the upper horizontal edges of said side panels, and knee plates secured to and connecting the right angle flanges along the horizontal abutting edges of said roof panels to the flanges along the vertical abutting edges of said side panels.

LUCIEN BUCK. JOHN ROBERT THYGESON. 

